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New Delhi is the fusion of the ancient and the modern culture which is the capital and the third largest city in India. The city stands along the West End of Gangetic Plain. A picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, gardens and exotic shows is unwind by Delhi. The city is the travel hub of Northern India comprising of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi.
Narrating the city's Mughal past, Old Delhi, takes you through the labyrinthine streets passing through formidable mosques, monuments and forts. You will also discover lively and colorful bazaars that boast to cater all sorts of good and items at mind-blowing prices amidst a barely controlled chaotic ambience. The imperial city of New Delhi displays the finely curved architecture of British Raj.
Under the shade of beautifully lined avenues of trees, tall and imposing government buildings, the city generates a mesmerizing charm reflecting well-composed and spacious streets.
Encompassing residential and commercial development to the west and south, New Delhi is moving towards the continuous growth with the satellite towns of Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad.
To become the most vibrant creative art centre in India, Delhi has overtaken Mumbai & Kolkata in recent years. With more than twenty five galleries, there are tours and seminars arranged in Delhi along with film shows, study classes on art appreciation conducted. Most of the performing art centers are around Mandi House and Bhagwan Das Road.
You can easily find an option at the Habitat World at Lodhi Road as well as Siri Fort at Khel Gaon. There’s also an amazing range of activities from cultural walks, talks, theatre productions and art exhibitions to films by Indian and foreign directors.
Area: 1483 sq. Kms.
Altitude: 239 m above sea level
Population: 1,3782976 (2001 census)
Males: 51.21 million Females: 42.49 million
Literacy rate: 81.82%
Density: 9294 persons per sq. Km.
Languages: Hindi, English, Urdu and Punjabi
Climate: Extreme Hot in summer and Cold in winter
Maximum Temperature: between 45 to 47 Degree Celsius
Minimum Temperature: between 01 to 03 Degree Celsius
Winter: December - February
Spring: March to mid April
Summer: April end to August
Autumn: September to November
Best time to Visit: October to March
River: Yamuna
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Governing Delhi
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Having a mixed fortune in governance since the decline of the Mughals, Delhi is the eternal capital city of India. The aftermath of the events of 1857 reduced it to a provincial town of the Punjab, and amenities came to it because of the concerns for the British troops and officials stationed in and around Shahjahanabad, the Walled City. The first municipality of the city was created in the year 1863. which is ironically in order to raise funds for the police and for conservancy such other funds as the members may think fit to expend on works of improvements, education and other local objects..."
Yet, the city charmed Queen Victoria; she held a durbar here upon assuming the title of the Empress of India in 1877, though Calcutta was the capital of British India. Before the durbar was held in 1911 to commemorate the shifting of the capital of India to Delhi, Curzon too held a vice regal durbar in 1903. Obviously, the construction of the new Imperial capital in Delhi created a mixed structure for city governance in which the Central government had strong control.
The status of Chief Commissioner's Province given to Delhi in 1912 continued until January 26, 1950 when the new Constitution made it a `Part C State', a unit enjoying the least autonomy. Decision-making powers were vested in the Chief Commissioner appointed by the Central government. Much later, the States Reorganization Commission (SRC) found this arrangement to be quite an anomalous one as "law and order, local self-government institutions, the Improvement Trust and other statutory boards regulating certain public utility services in Delhi and New Delhi" were not within the purview of the State Legislature and this led to the deterioration of administrative standards. On the recommendation of the SRC, Delhi was made a Union Territory in 1956, but since the SRC felt that the national capital should not become a political arena, Delhi was denied any representative institution. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the only representative institution, did not fulfill the popular urge for a representative government, and thus in 1966 a Metropolitan Council were created. A powerless institution with only recommendatory responsibilities, it was at the mercy of partisan politics.
There is a special provision created with respect to the NCT under the provisions AA relating to law and order and criminal justice as enjoyed by other States and empowering Parliament (by means of the Seventieth Amendment) to revise any provision under Article 239. Obviously, the Transaction of Business Rules, 1993, a classified document, has been framed differently in this case. The deletion of Section 48 of the Rules, which made it mandatory for the NCT government to secure the approval of the Central government before introducing any bill in the Legislative Assembly and restoring it for a Congress government, that too a year before Assembly elections, has caused the furor. Obviously, blatant partisanship is the name of the game.
The shape of the governing structure of India’s national capital has been an extension of the colonial mindset. This is important to point out here. The British shifted the capital of the Raj from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911 in order to separate the seat of the Central government from the provincial government. The intention was to isolate their imperial capital from its political
surroundings. And, the United States, Canada and Australia provided the model. A special complementary relationship is bounding national government and national capital. Any political and constitutional perspective Capital cities too have national and international functions and responsibilities, which at times supersede the scope, capacities and resources that they command.
Good governance is assured by a complementary relationship which goes beyond narrow partisanship since the capital city is in the international window for a country and nation.
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| Delhi Metro Rail |
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Construction of Delhi Metro Project began on 1st Oct 1998.
Line 1:- Shahdara - Rithala
Commercial operations commenced on 25th Dec 2002 between Shahdara and Tis Hazari.
There is a commercial operation commenced between Shahdara and Tis Hazari on 25th dec 2002. The second section between Tis Hazari and Inderlok started on 03rd Oct 2003 and the third section between Inderlok and Rithala on 31st Mar 2004.
Presently there is Line 1 between Shahdara and Rithala which is fully operational. Covering a distance of 22kms in about 38 minutes, the frequency of train service varies from 6 minutes during peak hours to 15 minutes. The cost of the one way tickets is from rupees 7 to rupees 14.
Stations Covered:
Shahdara, Welcome, Seelampur, Shastri Park, Kashmere Gate, Tis Hazari, Pul Bangash, Pratap Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Inder Lok, Kanhaya Nagar, Keshav Puram, Netaji Subhash Place, Kohat Enclave, Pitampura, Rohini East, Rohini West and Rithala.
Line 2 :- Vishwa Vidyalaya - Central Secretariat
Operational Section: A 4 Km section of this line between Vishvavidyalaya and Kashmere Gate commenced commercial operations from 20th Dec, 2004.
The section between Kashmere Gate and Central Secretariat (7 Kms) is now operational.
Stations Covered:
Vishwa Vidyalaya, Vidhan Sabha, Civil Lines, Kashmere Gate, Delhi Main, Chawri Bazar, New Delhi, Connaught Place, Patel Chowk and Central Secretariat.
Line-3 :- Indraprastha - Barakhamba Road - Dwarka
This line is still under construction and the tentative date of completion is :
between Barakhamba and Dwarka Subcity --- December 2005,
and between Barakhamba and Indraprastha --- March 2006.
Stations Covered:
Indraprastha, Pragati Maidan, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, R.K. Ashram Marg, Jhandewalan, Karol Bagh, Rajendra Place, Patel Nagar, Shadipur, Kirti Nagar, Moti Nagar, Ramesh Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Tagore Garden, Subhash Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Ganesh Nagar, Janakpuri, Uttam Nagar, Prem Nagar, Om Vihar, Dwarka Mor, Dwarka and Dwarka Sub City.
In the Second Phase of Delhi Metro Project, three work are planned:
1) Vishwa Vidyalaya to Jahangirpuri,
2) Central Secretariat to Qutab Minar,
3) Indraprastha to NOIDA City Centre.
Extension in nearby cities of Ghaziabad and Gurgaon are also planned. |
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